IdeaMall, Inc. Announces Name Change to PC Mall, Inc.; Name Change Reflects Strategic Focus on Core Business

Business Wire, April 12, 2001

Business Editors

TORRANCE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 12, 2001

IdeaMall, Inc. (Nasdaq: MALL), a leading rapid response supplier of technology solutions for business, government and educational institutions as well as consumers, today announced that its Board of Directors has approved a name change to PC Mall, Inc. Final approval of the name change is subject to shareholder approval at the company's 2001 annual meeting of shareholders.

Frank Khulusi, Chairman, President and CEO of IdeaMall, said, "Since the third quarter of 2000 we have been focused primarily on our core business which consists predominantly of the PC Mall brand (including the MacMall sub-brand). Changing the name of the parent company to PC Mall, Inc. is consistent with our focus."

About IdeaMall

IdeaMall's core business, consisting primarily of the PC Mall and MacMall brands, is a leading rapid response supplier of technology solutions for business, government and educational institutions as well as consumers. More than 100,000 different products from companies such as Compaq, Microsoft, Apple, IBM and Hewlett-Packard are marketed to business customers using relationship-based outbound telemarketing, catalogs and the Internet (http://www.pcmall.com, http://www.macmall.com). Customer orders are rapidly filled by the company's distribution center, which is strategically located near FedEx's main hub, or by IdeaMall's extensive network of distributors, one of the largest networks in the IT industry.

IdeaMall also operates two startup wholly owned subsidiaries: eLinux (http://www.eLinux.com) and eCost.com (http://www.ecost.com). eLinux is similar to IdeaMall's core business, but with a focus on Linux-based solutions. eCOST.com is primarily a Web-based, multi-category supplier of high technology products.

Except for historical information, all of the statements, expectations and assumptions contained in the foregoing are forward-looking statements. The realization of any or all of these expectations is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties and it is possible that the assumptions made by management may not materialize. There can be no assurances that the name change to PC Mall, Inc. will be approved by shareholders or that the company's focus on its core business will improve sales, gross profits and operating results. In addition to the factors set forth above, other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations include; competition from companies either currently in the market or entering the market; competition from other catalog and retail store resellers and price pressures related thereto; uncertainties surrounding the supply of and demand for products manufactured by and compatible with Linux, Apple Computer; our reliance on Apple Computer, IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Compaq and other vendors; and risks due to shifts in market demand and/or price erosion of owned inventory. This list of risk factors is not intended to be exhaustive. Reference should also be made to the risk factors set forth from time to time in the Company's SEC reports, including but not limited to those set forth in the section entitled "Certain Factors Affecting Future Results" in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2000.

Note: Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.